The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-23
DESTINY SHOWN IN A GEM.
The Remarkable Sights Seen Through
a Sapphire.

Sapphire.
The recent lecture by Mr.. Alfred Phillips
has aroused the dormant interest IN sub
Ject which, until lately, occupied SO much
attention amongst connoisseurs in, perhaps,
the most refined of all the arts-that OF tie
gem engrayer, which, in the medieval ages
in Italy, ranked higher than that OF either
painting or sculpture, says the Birmingham
(EnS.j Post. 1t was curious to observe that
the specimens furnished as illustrations IN
the lecture given by Mr.. Alfred Phillips be-
long TO English amateurs. Lord Kevel-
stroke, one of the last Of the enthusiasts,
contributed his famous saphir merveilleux,
once belonging to the famous Egalite, Duke
of Orleans, which has been carefully pre-
served from publicity for so many years.
1t was said that the late Emperor Napoleon
III. had expressed such earnest desire for
possession of the gem that he had more than
once offered the most fabulous sums to
obtain it. Tho superstition of the time in
which it flourished on Egalite's fat finger
ascribed miraculous powers TO the stone and
that in its depths had been revealed the
fatal destiny of its owner, when he one day
had lain himself down TO rest in the park at
St Cloud
The weather was hot $50 goes the story)
and as the Duke lay musing on tine varied
chances of his own and of his fathers life,
wondering whether the sweeping doctrines
of the encyclopedias would lead the people,
a binding ray of the monday sun, piercing
like flaming shaft through the leaves just
stirred by the wind above his head fell
straight las he afterward described the oc-
currence), like q pointed finger upon the
sapphire which adorned his hand Beneath
the ray Of light it seemed to increase in size
and grow all afiame.
In establishment he raised it to his eye and
there beheld the Scatfold and the headsman
and the surging crowd; nay, so excited did
he become that he actually fancied he could
hear the trampling of the horses of the
guard and the roll Of the drums which an
nounced the arrival of the cart bearing the
prisoner to his doom. Presently the victim
assembled the steps, his back was turned; i'll
another second he was made to kneel before
the block and then the face, pale and livid,
full of horror and indignation, was recog-
nized by the terrified gazer as his own.
Nine. de Genlis refers more than once in
her memoirs" to the secret circumstances,
the memory of which now and then over
came the poor debauched Egalite with dread
and melancholy but of course was turned to
laughter and mockeIy byo the high-born
gamblers of whom the Dukes society was
composed uo
The diamond naturally occupied the
greater portion of the lecturers attention,
ana he expressed the greatest objection to
the engraving of the diamond which has
been essayed Of late, as it deteriorates from
the value of the stone, which is dependent ON
its brilliancy. The largest diamond in the
world-the Draganza, belonging to the King
of Portugal-is said to weigh 1000 carats,
and to be worth 1924 100000 It is to be
supposed nobody has, however, offered to
purchase it, The mad Queen Joanna always
carried it about her person, and every morn
ing dedicated it in all solemnity to st. Jago,
holding it in her grasp all the time she laid
it on the altar
The three historical rubies once also be-
longed TO the Crown of Portugal, said to
have been dropped by Don Sebastian in the
sand of the beach at Tangiers, when he
landed on his fight from his country, are
still hunted for by credulous treasure
seekers, and are supposed to be only con-
cealed for awhile until some fisherman more
lucky than his fellows may bring them to
light.
Polish tradition tells of a diamond con-
cealed in the treasure vaults of the Sapieha
family at Warsaw. which is unique in the
world, possessing the faculty of rejecting in
brilliancy of color every object placed near
it.
In short, there is no end to the legends fur
nished by the diamond in all countries, and it
is pity to behold the trade decrease of its
value In consequence of the great quantity
being poured upon us from the Cape Never
did fashion show more malevolent caprice
than in the case of the diamond, for Just as
it becomes more easy of acquisition the
usual, and once the only, wearers of the
precious gem, refuse to acknowledge its
value as an adjunct to the full dress toilet.